My name is Ann, and I am a single mom. I adopted two beautiful sisters in the late fall of 2011. I am hoping to journal my journey as a mom and share my ups and downs...most of all, my heart. I hope that we can encourage each other through this journey.

The Romagnolo Family

Monday, February 23, 2015

Focused

I think that it
is awesome how God’s timing works out.As I am working on “The Year of Change”, my Beachbody business, and
everything else that life throws at us, the character trait “Focused” comes up
this week.God knew that in the midst of
a busy spring semester that is starting to kick in full gear, I would need this
reminder this week.I love this quote
from Elizabeth George, “Aim at nothing and you will hit
it every time.”Jesus
prepared.She also says, “Success is when preparation meets opportunity.”If I want to live with purpose, I need to
focus my heart, my time, and my priorities.Be intentional EVERY day.I was
also reminded of God’s faithfulness too.We will have temptation in life, but God is always there and always
provides a way out.This is where being
prepared comes in.Are we allowing
ourselves to get in these situations?For example, in my new fitness journey do I prepare and plan?Do I evaluate my week to schedule in my
workouts?Do I evaluate my day ahead the
night before and make plans to be successful with my eating (packing the right
foods and/or enough snacks).If I leave
everything up to chance, I’m setting myself up to fall into temptation.This can apply to so many other areas of our
lives…dating, finances, etc.

This week’s
lesson also convicted me of another area of my life that I have not been
consistent in.When I lived in Florida,
I used to be pretty good about praying for others daily.I had a list and each day of each week,
certain friends or family members were lifted up in prayer.I’ve gotten out of that habit.I made my list again and hope that I can make
that a daily habit.Also, I realized
that it’s okay to pray for your goals and dreams.Leave them at the feet of Jesus.Ask Him to make His goals and dreams and your
goals and dreams the same.Do you pray
for your goals and dreams?

Jesus knew
from the very beginning what His purpose was.He kept pushing through and staying focused no matter what.He did not give up or give in.I can apply this to my workouts right
now.It’s super hard to get up early in
the morning, but if I keep doing it and working out consistently, in the end
I’ll be healthier and look better.I
know that this cannot even compare to what Jesus had to go through, but for me
and my life, this is where I am right now.I have some friends that are going through the wilderness right
now.They feel alone and their 40 days
and nights have turned into years.I
can’t even imagine.I pray that they can
just keep pushing forward and trusting God.His Word says that He will never leave us or forsake us.Sometimes it’s hard to see that when you are
in the valley.Every time that Jesus was
tempted to give in or give up, God sent an angel.I pray that God will send His angels to
encourage those of you in the valley right now.

Philippians 4:11-13 and vs. 19 says
that God will always meet our needs.My
prayer is that I (& all of us) will stay focused on His provision and His
purpose for my (our) life.For so many
years, God has placed ministering to women (especially teen girls) on my
heart.Before I became a mom, I used to
work in the high school ministry at my church.Once I became a mom, I had to stop and focus on my new ministry, my
children.Since I am a high school
choir director, I still get to build relationships with teenagers and be a
positive influence in their lives.I
have been wondering though…how in my CRAZY (I mean CRAZY)
schedule can I still minister to and encourage others?I think that God has opened the door through
this blog and my Beachbody business.I
want to honor God in all that I do.I
want to stay focused on His will.

Elizabeth George ends this chapter
with a list from Titus 2:3-5 on

how we can know God’s
purpose in our lives.I read this and
immediately asked one of my old students to paint this on a canvas for me so
that I can hang it in my room.Here it
is:

1.Be godly in your behavior.

2.Be truthful and kind in your speech.

3.Be disciplined and self-control.

4.
Be a teacher and encourager of good
things.

5.Be
devoted to your Husband (I capitalized this one because I am not
married and therefore God is my Husband).

6.Be
devoted to your children.

7.Be
discreet and wise in your actions.

8.Be
chaste and pure inside and out.

9.Be
focused on your home.

10.Be
kind and good to all.

I want to be a woman who lives like this this.I have so much further to go.We all do.Let’s do this journey together!Let’s be women who encourage each other in our goals and dreams, to live
focused lives, and to glorify God in our lives.Until next week my friends…